6 comments/ 18521 views/ 1 favorites The Escapee Ch. 05-06 By: coaster2 Chapter 5: Jack phoned his mother from the ferry and let her know that he would be at her home by one that afternoon. She had sounded a bit better and said that she had talked to Marilyn last night and she was coming out on the first flight she could get. Her friend and neighbor, Joanne Horton, was there to help her with the arrangements and keep her company. His parting from Donna had been sad and tearful on her part. It would be the first time they had been apart since they had become lovers and now, a couple of hours later, Jack already felt alone and lost. He had lost his father. They were close and shared many good times over the years. How old was he? Seventy five or six? He couldn't recall. It didn't matter. It was too soon and he was unprepared for it. Although he was the younger of the two offspring, he was the one his parents relied upon and it was he who was consulted and named executor. Marilyn had left home directly after achieving her degree in Education. She was two years older than Jack. She applied for and was granted a teaching position in Ontario, near Ottawa. She had been a very good student in French and she wanted to become bilingual in a practical way. She had been a teacher and now administrator for almost thirty years. She had married a nice guy who was in the Education Ministry of Ontario and they had produced two children; twins Paul and Stephen. They were in their early twenties and both were attending University near their home. Jack and Marilyn had never been close and yet they were fond of each other. He had not seen her very often over the years and her return for their father's funeral would be their first time since Shannon's funeral. These were all the wrong reasons to have the family, or what was left of it, coming together. When he arrived at his parent's home, he was surprised at how tranquil his mother was. Her good friend and neighbor, Joanne was with her and he assumed she had been a solid anchor for her in this stressful time. "Hi mom. How are you keeping?" he asked in sympathy. "I'm OK John. I'm starting to get used to the fact that your father's gone. It's hard. We've been married for fifty four wonderful years. I was very lucky to have that many I think." she said calmly. "It was too soon, mom. He was too young. I had no idea that he was ... vulnerable." "Neither did I. There was no hint or any warning. He had high blood pressure, but then, so do most men his age it seems. He was just out in the back yard, picking up some bags of compost after I'd cleaned out the flower beds. He just keeled over. No sound, no cry ... nothing. If I hadn't been out there with him, I'd never have known it had happened." She was near tears now. The memories were beginning to overwhelm her. Joanne moved to her and joined with Jack. The three were silent in their grief for a while. Jack finally stepped back and picked up his bag and went to his usual guest room. He stopped when he saw it was already occupied by someone ... Joanne he assumed. He backtracked to the third bedroom and entered, satisfied that it was free. He slowly unpacked his suitcase and hung up his clothes or put them in the dresser. He unpacked his laptop and set it on the desk until he could determine where he could connect to the internet. He lay back on the bed with his hands behind his head and tried to empty his mind for a while. Too much had happened to him in this past year. It was what he was trying to explain last night at the dinner table when he got off track and he had blurted out his feelings for Donna. He meant every word he knew, but he had surprised and shocked her without consideration. He wasn't insensitive, he thought. Perhaps it was the wine, but more likely it was the excitement of the discovery of his feelings for her. He wanted the whole world to know. He was alive again. He was no longer in hiding. It hadn't started that way. He was almost cold in his calculating strategy to seduce her. He recognized her vulnerability and quickly went to work to break down her barriers. He succeeded far more quickly that he had expected. She was his to do with as he wished. For a week or two, it was exhilarating; a conquest to brag about among the other Alpha males. It was later that he began to have different feelings about what he had done with and to Donna Remple. She was so completely and totally female. When he looked at her he saw an erotic painting from a bygone era; boldly colored and broadly stroked on some aging canvas. At some point, she ceased being a captive and became a lover and some weeks later still, from lover to loved. It was an osmosis and the revelation of the previous night was almost as surprising to John Michael Matheson as it was to Donna Louise Remple. He closed his eyes and tried to visualize her. He could see her lounging on her bed, the sheet pulled carelessly over her hips, her eyes fixed on him. They were hypnotic and he quietly drifted off. He slept for over an hour and when waking, rose, stretched and moved to the kitchen as he heard sounds of activity. "Did you have a good sleep, dear." his mother asked. "I guess so. I didn't realize I was so tired. I'm still a bit dopey, I think." he confessed. "I'm sorry I didn't warn you about your usual room, John. Joanne is staying with me. She's been very kind and very helpful." "No need to explain, mom. I'm just glad you have someone here. Joanne is a very good friend." he said, smiling at the taller woman. Joanne Horton had lost her husband to prostate cancer six years ago and Muriel had been very supportive then and their casual friendship had deepened. She had adjusted to living on her own and Jack idly wondered if that would be the way her mother learned to carry on. He had thought about having her come to Courtenay to live with him, but he could see a number of problems associated with that decision. He decided to wait and see what she wanted when she was better able to make a decision on her future. "I'm going to head back to my house to see what's going on." Joanne volunteered. "I'll be back in an hour or so." she said smiling. She picked up her coat at the front hall stand and let herself out the front door. "You're lucky to have her here, mom." Jack said quietly. "Yes. She's been through ... this ... situation. She knows what to expect I suppose. I don't, John. I'm lost right now." she said sorrowfully. He walked to his mother and embraced her as her sobs began and they stood in the kitchen for some time just letting the emotions go. "I think I'm finally beginning to understand how you felt when you lost Shannon." she said quietly into his shoulder. "Does the hurt ever go away?" she asked hopefully. "Not really, mom. But maybe it was different for me. Shannon and I didn't have as much time together as you and dad and it wasn't sudden or unexpected. I think that made it worse in some ways ... knowing what was coming and not being able to do anything about it." "Your sister will be here tomorrow. It's been a long time since you've seen her, hasn't it." "Yah ... a long time." he said softly. "Mom ... there's something I have to tell you. Something important." "What is it, John?" "I've met someone ... someone important ... important to me." he stammered. "Oh, John ... really? I'm surprised. That's good news ... isn't it?" She had stepped back and the look of astonishment on her face was hard for Jack to interpret. Was she happy or unhappy? "Yes ... her name is Donna Remple. She's a real estate agent. She sold me my house. We've been ... dating and ... you know ... seeing each other for several months." "John ... that's nice. I'm glad. You need someone in your life after ... after what's happened. Is it serious?" "Yes ... it is for me. I think it is for her too. I'm going to ask her to marry me, but I'm not sure when." "Oh John, that is good news. I'm so happy for you. You deserve to have someone to love and who loves you." she said sincerely. "Thanks, mom. I'm glad you feel that way. I'm going to see Mr. & Mrs. Dunne and let them know too. I wouldn't want them to find out from someone else and I really don't know how they will take it. They were distraught with Shannon's death and I'm not sure that they don't blame me somehow." "No John, they don't blame you. We've kept in touch and they know how devastated you were with her loss. I hope they will be happy for you. Just make sure young Michael stays close to them. He's their touchstone." She always was the wise one, Jack thought. He smiled and kissed her forehead and sat in the nearest kitchen chair. "I talked to Mike last night and again when I was on the ferry. He'll be here tomorrow too. I can move out to make room since Marilyn and Mike are going to fill the house to overflowing for a few days." "No ... don't do that. Joanne is going to stay at her house and Mike can sleep either on the sofa-bed in the study or at her house. We won't be short of room." They talked about making the funeral arrangements and Jack was surprised to learn that there would only be a memorial service and that the Memorial Society was looking after the remains. There would be a plaque for his father and one for his mother in the future when the time came. Jack had never given much thought to his own parents' mortality or for that matter, his own. It came as a shock to him that it wasn't that far in the future. Joanne returned just before five and they shared a glass of wine while the dinner preparations were being made and ate almost in silence. It was Sunday evening and the shock of his father's death had begun to wear off and was being replaced by a sense of deep sadness. He could see in his mother's eyes that she was lost; wondering how she would make it on her own. Just after nine, his mother retired and it gave Jack and chance to talk to Joanne. "You must know what she's going through, Joanne. Will she be all right?" he asked seriously. "In time, Jack. She's in shock right now. I'm going to stick close by her; even after you go back to your home. I have the time and we've become close friends. I will help her through this. She trusts me." "That's a huge relief, Joanne. I couldn't leave her here by herself. I was thinking of taking her back to Courtenay with me, but I'm not sure she'd be better off there." he confessed. "I'm going to trust your instincts and judgment on this." "Thank you Jack. You're very important to her. Just make sure you stay in touch with her." she counseled. With that, Jack rose, remembering he hadn't called Donna yet. "Excuse me; I have to make a phone call." He pulled his cell out of his pocket and walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. She was number one on his speed dial. "Donna ... it's me." "Oh Jack ... how are you? I've been so worried. How are you holding up?" she asked solicitously. "I'm getting used to the idea, I guess. He's not here and it's strange, but ... I'm getting used to it." "I miss you, darling. Do you want me to come there?" she asked quietly. "No ... no ... not right now. Mom has a good friend here and with my sister Marilyn and Mike coming, it'll be a houseful." "OK ... I guess tomorrow will be busy ... with the arrangements, I mean." "Yes ... I'm sure it will be." There was a pause. "Donna ... I told mom about us ... about you. She's happy that I'm happy." "Oh Jack, I'm so glad. That makes it so much easier for you." "I'm going to see Shannon's parents tomorrow or the next day, I think. I need to tell them too." "Yes ... I understand." she said softly. "Jack ... you've made me very happy ... you know that don't you?" "I wasn't so sure after last night, but it feels very good to hear you tell me that. I love you Donna." He could hear the muffled sobs on the other end of the phone line. "I love you too, Jack." she finally responded shakily. Chapter 6: The meeting with Frank and Elise Dunne was somber and quiet. They offered their condolences to Jack on the loss of his father. Frank and Mike had become good friends over the years and even with the death of their daughter, they had remained in touch. The four often got together for bridge or just a social evening and although it hadn't been as frequent since Shannon's passing, they felt the loss of their friend very deeply. Jack struggled with how to tell them of his love for Donna and in the end, he stuttered and stammered and finally got it out. He was relieved that they were supportive and congratulatory. They had no illusions that Jack would live in mourning for the rest of his life. They would meet again at the Memorial Service, but Jack felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders with their approval. The service was relatively small; held in a Chapel in Burnaby and the plaque was placed in the cemetery not far from the family home. Just over two dozen attended the services and most gathered at the Matheson home on a dreary Thursday afternoon in November to celebrate the life of Michael Allan Matheson, born December 11, 1930. He didn't quite make his seventy sixth birthday. Earlier that week, Marilyn and young Mike had joined Jack at the Mountain Shadows pub for a drink and to share a few memories of their father/grandfather. There were more than a few tears shed early on that afternoon and in the end, they took a taxi home rather than risk the short drive with the amount of alcohol they had consumed. If the Dunne family were of Irish Stock, the Matheson family was acting Irish that afternoon. Jack had called it a pre-wake and the mood, after the tears, was upbeat and sprinkled with laughter. They remembered the good times, the quirks of Mike Senior, the warmth of the family that had been missing for a few years, and how lucky they were to have shared this time with a fine man. Jack took the opportunity to tell Mike and Marilyn about Donna. They too were happy for him and Mike wanted to meet her. He had a car and could drive to Courtenay on the weekend; staying at Jack's house. Marilyn smiled and wished she could meet her as well; perhaps in the future when things had settled down. When they arrived home, Muriel was a bit nonplussed at their buoyant mood, but relaxed as she saw they were all together as family at this important time. It was the first truly upbeat moment she had experienced since that fateful afternoon. His mother held up well at the reception and Joanne was always there to help and support her. If Muriel became forgetful or lost in memories, Joanne stepped in to rescue the moment. Jack was now certain that his mother's friend was going to be a very important part of her life in the near term and beyond. He was beginning to get a sense of comfort and confidence about her future. He phoned Donna every evening and they talked and began to plan their future. He hadn't yet asked her to marry him, but he would never do that over the phone and he needed to find a ring to make it official. Then there was the practical matter; they each owned a home and only one would be required. Where would they live? Donna knew it was only a matter of time before Jack would ask her to marry him. She sensed no hesitancy or lack of commitment on his part and she would be patient with him. It was a big step for him. It was his second life-time promise and it wouldn't be easy; especially after the unhappy ending to the first. For her part, she had been on her own for a long time and had only begun to realize how much she had missed during those years. Her only regret was not having met Jack Matheson a long time ago. Marilyn had returned to Ottawa two days after the Memorial Service and Mike had gone back to school a day earlier. Jack was going a bit stir-crazy in the house himself with his mother and Joanne and decided to spend some time on his own. He headed out on the road in his car without a destination and eventually ended up at the Brentwood Mall. He wandered around aimlessly until he found himself walking by a large jewelry store. He had thought about asking Donna to marry him and to do so would require a ring of course. He looked over the selection in the counter display without any of them popping out at him. It wasn't urgent and when the woman clerk approached him, he told her he was just browsing. The thought crossed his mind; exactly who would be 'just browsing' for engagement rings? Perhaps it wasn't that urgent after all. He stopped at an espresso kiosk, ordered a latte and was heading for the seating area when he heard someone call his name. "Jack? Jack Matheson?" a woman's voice called. Jack turned and his eyes widened as a very beautiful, mature blonde walked toward him. He searched his memory for some clue toward recognition but none came. She looked to be about his age; perhaps a bit younger. She was expensively dressed, very well coiffed and made up like a model. How would she possibly know him? "You don't recognize me, do you." she smiled. It was a beautiful smile. "Ah ... no ... no I don't. Sorry." Jack admitted. "Merilee Wright." she smiled that dazzling smile again. "Merilee! Wow! You look ... terrific. It's been years since I've seen you. I'm surprised you recognized me." "Well I probably wouldn't have if it hadn't been for that magazine article on you a few years ago. You know the one about the top entrepreneurs in the province?" "Oh ... that ... I'd forgotten all about it." he said with a slight smile. "I haven't. You've turned into quite the handsome man, Jack." she said coyly. "Yah ... well I guess I do look a lot different than I did in High School." he admitted. He looked at her and chuckled; almost to himself. "What's so funny?" she asked. "I was just thinking ... you were my ... uh ... vision of the perfect girl. I see you haven't changed." he said a bit more boldly. "Aw Jack ... that's sweet. But you never even asked me for a dance, much less a date." she said with a furrowed brow. "Ah ... well ... you were well out of my league. Remember, I was the class nerd and I looked the part." he confessed. "That's too bad. I always thought you were kind of cute and so smart. I often wished you were interested in me." Jack stared at her for a minute. "Well, you could have fooled me. I didn't think you even knew I existed." he grinned. "Why don't we sit over there?" she pointed to an empty table. "We have a lot of catching up to do." She smiled that lovely, bright smile and there was no way Jack could have refused her. They sat opposite each other and Jack sipped his coffee tentatively, waiting for Merilee to make the first move. "Well, I know what you've been up to, Jack. It was all in the magazine article." she said brightly. "And you're married with a son, if I remember correctly." "Ah ... well ... that was then. My wife died three years ago." he said in a more matter-of-fact voice than he felt. "Oh ... oh ... I am sorry Jack." she said sincerely. "That must have been very hard for you ... and your son." "Yes ... it was." he agreed. "Cancer is never easy to deal with and Shannon's was a long, slow, painful process." "Oh Jack. I can't imagine. That's so sad." "Well ... it's been three years now and I'm finally coming to terms with it." he said with resignation. "But what about you? You look very ... professional ... like a model or something." he stammered. She laughed at that and again that special smile shone through. "I'm in Advertising for Parker-Lewis. We handle a lot of TV and Movie promotions." Jack glanced at her left hand and saw no rings. "No husband?" he asked directly. "No ... not currently. I've had a couple of marriages, but I think I'll go it alone for a while until I really find Mr. Right. Are you interested?" she asked with a sly smile. "Well ... Merilee ... this is so sudden. Don't you think we should get to know each other better." he laughed. The Escapee Ch. 05-06 "Of course! Why don't we have dinner tonight and we can get the preliminaries out of the way?" she said with what appeared to be a serious look. Jack sat back for a moment considering her comment. "Sure ... why not. Where would you like to go?" he asked, hoping he was calling her bluff. "Well ... how about Jardine's?" she suggested without seeming to pause. "Fine. Where can I pick you up?" She reached in her purse and handed him her card. "That's my address on the card. How does seven sound?" "Fine ... I pick you up at seven and I'll call Jardine's and make a reservation." he volunteered. "Oh don't bother ... they know me and they always have a table. Trust me." she said with an air of authority. She put her hand over his and looked at him with another of her smiles. "I'm really looking forward to this." she said, leaning forward and placing a kiss on his cheek. With that, she rose, waved with her fingers and turned and headed back into the mall. Jack sat there stunned for a few moments. Where the hell did this come from? She was still the most gorgeous female he had ever known ... as she was coming on to him? If only he was thirty years younger, he thought to himself and laughed at his vanity. She was just being ... Merilee. He tried to remember what she was like in school, but for the life of him, he couldn't conjure up a memory that would tell him anything. Probably, he thought, he had so little contact with her that she didn't ever register on his memory. It made her recognition of him even more remarkable. Jack finally made it back to his mother's home just before four that afternoon after wandering aimlessly around in his car for most of the afternoon. He told his mother that he had run into an old school 'chum' at the mall and they were getting together for dinner. She smiled and told him to 'have a good time' and that was that. He showered, dressed in dress slacks with an open neck dress shirt and a blazer. It was just good luck that he had them with him and wouldn't be out of place when escorting someone as memorable as Merilee. He picked her up right on seven o'clock as she met him in the lobby of her high-rise and he escorted her to the car. She was dressed in a simple, dark green dress with matching heels and a colorful shawl. She covered herself against the cold of the November evening with what was obviously an expensive, tan cashmere coat. Everything about her looked first class; from head to toe. "You look fabulous. I feel underdressed." Jack said with a slight smile. "You look just fine, Jack. I'm just delighted we could get together tonight." It sounded like a genuine statement and he accepted it as such. When they arrived at Jardine's, Merilee made "an entrance"; almost mimicking Hollywood. She addressed the maitre d by his name and didn't even suggest they had a reservation. He smiled, took her coat and then led them to a table along the side. They talked about their lives after high school and their career paths. Jack found he could talk about Shannon without tightening up and their conversation was pleasant and flowed along nicely. He learned that she had tried acting for a while but couldn't get steady work and switched to advertising and promotion when a job was offered by a short-term lover. She married an agency executive at 24 and divorced him at 30. They weren't right for each other she claimed. She married again at 35 and divorced again at 42. Six or seven years seemed to be the extent of her ability to tolerate a husband. He too was discarded as unacceptable. Along the way, the two divorce settlements had left her with the financial means to get along very well in a world that demanded she look good at every turn. The job was a bonus to help the hours pass more quickly. She was good at it with the added advantage that she liked it. They enjoyed a very fine meal; talked, reminisced, sipped wine and then coffee well on toward ten. "Why don't we have a nightcap at my place, Jack? This evening has been delightful and I'd hate to see it end early." she said with a sly grin. Jack was startled with her proposal and for a moment entertained the idea of turning her down for some reason he would then conjure. His ego and libido quickly overruled that alternative and he offered a shrugged "sure". After all, she was his high school dream girl and here he was, many years later, being invited in a not too subtle way into her boudoir. It may have been a little late, but what the hell; a walking wet dream was a walking wet dream. She was still drop-dead gorgeous. She unlocked the door to her apartment and walked in ahead of him, closing the door behind them. Jack helped her with her coat and placed it on a hanger in the open clothes closet. Merilee turned to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and planted the most sensuous and soul-searching kiss on him that he had ever experienced. Involuntarily, his hands went around her waist and he responded to the best of his ability. Less than five minutes later they were naked and in her bed. Jack was beginning to provide her with some oral stimulation that she appeared to find very appealing. He had worked his way down from her lips to her breasts to her navel and finally to her well trimmed sex. It was meeting with her complete approval as she vocalized her delight with his actions and was thrusting her hips toward his mouth. He decided to make the most of this opportunity and bent to his task with renewed enthusiasm. It turned out Merilee loved oral sex and showed it by calling Jack's name frequently as she passed from orgasm to orgasm. Jack had two fingers buried deeply in her vagina, searching and finding her G spot. His tongue, lips and occasionally teeth, wreaked havoc on her clit. She became a bucking bronco; or maybe that was bronkette. Whatever, she loved the attention and let Jack know all about it. Jack's tongue was getting a bit sore from all the work it was doing and he finally decided he would try some conventional sex. He rose above her and made it obvious what he was planning to do. Merilee smiled, grabbed his erection and directed it toward her now well-lubricated tunnel. Jack slipped into her without an ounce of resistance and began to pump her with a vigorous thrusting. Merilee was just as responsive and pleased as she was with his oral ministrations. In a burst of energy, she rolled Jack over and began to ride him with enthusiasm. Her lovely breasts bounced and swayed with her reckless humping and Jack was enjoying every second of it. She was clearly pleased with Jack's performance and Jack was surprised that even without the ever-reliable little blue pill, he was able, for the time being, to keep up with her. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. His orgasm was somewhere between her third and fourth and only the fact that his cock maintained some rigidity until she had finished was he able to complete her pleasuring. He lay beside her and waited as they came down from their high and resumed something resembling a normal breathing pattern. "You were quite a surprise, Jack. I didn't expect quite that dramatic a performance." she said quietly as she looked into his eyes. "I was inspired by the lady I was with." he said, grinning. "Thanks. That's the nicest thing you could have said." "Merilee ... uh ... I don't know if this is the time or not ... but ..." "That's alright, Jack. I'm not after another husband. I'm not even after a lover. I just wanted to know what an old unlit flame was like. I wish I'd met you a long time ago. We might have been good for each other." "Aw ... Merilee ... I wasn't cut out for life in the fast lane. You'd have been bored to tears with me." he laughed. "Somehow, I don't think you would have let that happen." she said sincerely. "Do you think we can have one more tonight?" she asked hopefully. "I'm not sure. At my age, it's a bit of a gamble." he grinned. "Well ... let's see what I can do about that." She reached down and softly held his cock in her hand. She slipped down his body, planting kisses on him as she went and when she reached what she held in her hand, she began to return the oral favors he had bestowed on her. Happily, he was restored to life by her expert ministrations and they joined again in a slow, erotic dance that began with him on top of her and then behind her and finally with her on top of him. There was no rush and they celebrated the time they had left with each other. She had made it plain that this was a one night stand with no strings attached. They showered together, he had dressed and Merilee kissed him heartily as he prepared to leave. "You're welcome back here anytime, Jack. Anytime!" she said seductively. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." he smiled. When he left to head back to his mother's house, it was after midnight. As he drove through the almost deserted streets, he began to think of the impact this would have on his relationship with Donna. What did it mean and why did he allow it to happen so easily. Merilee meant nothing to him but an old memory and he could put tonight down as just an experience. It didn't change how he felt about Donna. There were now three women in his life. Shannon, his wonderful, loving wife was still a live memory and the standard by which he judged all other women. Donna, the bold, voluptuous woman who loved him and who he said he loved. And Merilee, the fling ... the once in a lifetime lover with the exciting past and alluring presence. He had some things to sort out in his mind. He had some decisions to make. Tonight wasn't a good night to do that.